The End of an Era

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This past weekend my daughter played her last tournament with her team that has been her home away from home the last 4 summers. She made great friends and we met great people in the early years with North Coast Spirit, Lasers Orange, and Ohio Ice Donaldson, but it was when she joined JP's lasers red that she found her home to stay. There was a lot of reflection this weekend on the great times, on watching these young ladies grow up and on the acccomplishments that this team has had during the the 5 years since they became the Red. I have got to see many great teams and players in Ohio over the years and the future looks bright if adult egos don't mess it up, but that is another discussion. I did want to give one last congratulations to this team and share some of those accomplishments as they finished up together.

2008- Lasers Red 14U
ASA 14U state champions- they probably won more than this, but my daughter was not with them yet so I don't know the others
2009 Lasers Red 14U
Champions at Compuware, ASA states, Stingrays
2nd place at 16U GAPSS- lots of memories starting at 8:00am in the losers bracket and winning 7 straight without a break to reach the championship before falling short to an excellent MVExpress team
2010 Ohio Lasers 94 16U
Champions at ASA states and Stingrays
2011 Lasers Scarlet 16U
Champions at Dayton Metro, Stingrays, Loudonville 18U
2nd place in the 18U colorado sparkler
tied 5th ASA/USA Nationals
2012 Lasers Scarlet 18U
Champions at Stingrays and Loudonville 18U (what a great way to finish)

Over the years new players have come but the friendships have mostly remained. From the players who spent at least a year with the team here is the colleges I know will have players we had the pleasure of meeting and watching on this team. Ohio State, Michigan State, Northwestern, Akron, Kent State, Toledo, Wright State, Ashland, Tiffin, Malone, Lamar University (texas), Hampton(VA), Radford (VA), South Dakota State. There are probably others I may not be recalling at this moment.

In conclusion I offer my heartfelt thanks for 4 wonderful years to
Coach JP- I didn't always agree with you, but what do you expect from a pitcher's parent we are buttheads. You taught these girls that high expectations and goals can be reached. You asked them to do things that maybe they did not believe they could, but your belief in them allowed that to reach those expectations.
The parents- You have raised an amazing group of girls, any of which I am proud to say I know. I believe every parent we met in 4 years had the best interests of all of the girls at heart and would take care of them like they were their own.
Mostly to the girls- Watching you play and hang out together for the last 4 years probably made me feel every emotion imagineable at one time or another. But every weekend you allowed me to smile, laugh, and be proud. I believe that all of you will be successful in life and hope that someday down the road I get to hear about those successes.
Thanks
Mike Sutton

 

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Congrats Mike. You should be proud of Jen and her teams accomplishment, looking forward to her success in college.
I know Your DD is one of Morgans favorite ball player and friend she has met since she started playing.


Mike C

 

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Thank you Mike,
Thank you to all of the Parents of these outstanding ladies. You did all the hard work.Your daughters have taught me so much over the years.
They are great players but more importantly great people.I'm looking forward to following all of their college careers.
I watched them go from snotty nose little girls to the great role models they are today.
We had had a good run . The memories you have given me are priceless.
Players, THANK YOU. I asked you for one thing and you always delivered.Please take that maximun effort on to the next level.


And thanks Bone for getting it started.

 

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Mike ... very touching ... reminds me of when my DD reached that point ... the good news is that when one era ends, another one begins, and I am sure this next era with your DD in college will bring many more memories as well. Our kids grow up way too fast though, don't they?

 

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awesome post! Thanks for sharing and best of luck with life beyond the diamond... not sure what you'll do but FWIW good luck! Reminds of Shawshank Redemption and when the inmates were released after years of prison... didn't know what to do. Except the diamond is our heaven, not prison.

 

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Awesome post. This is what great parents, players and coaches can do when everyone is in it for the right reasons. As mentioned, might not always agree with what the coach does but he is doing what he thinks best is for the team at that time. I wish all these ladies the best at the next level. Great job coach and lastly, parents way to go, you are the ones that helped make this happen the most and you should be applauded for that. Thanks to you and the coach these players were worked hard and focused on their goals and now they have achieved them. Awesome job

 

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Great post! Best of luck to your daughter in college. I can't wait to hear about Jen in Dave Leffew's "college player update emails" I will share them with my 13 year -she hopes to be in your daughter's shoes one day.

 

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Thanks for sharing!

 

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This past weekend my daughter played her last tournament with her team that has been her home away from home the last 4 summers. She made great friends and we met great people in the early years with North Coast Spirit, Lasers Orange, and Ohio Ice Donaldson, but it was when she joined JP's lasers red that she found her home to stay. There was a lot of reflection this weekend on the great times, on watching these young ladies grow up and on the acccomplishments that this team has had during the the 5 years since they became the Red. I have got to see many great teams and players in Ohio over the years and the future looks bright if adult egos don't mess it up, but that is another discussion. I did want to give one last congratulations to this team and share some of those accomplishments as they finished up together.

2008- Lasers Red 14U
ASA 14U state champions- they probably won more than this, but my daughter was not with them yet so I don't know the others
2009 Lasers Red 14U
Champions at Compuware, ASA states, Stingrays
2nd place at 16U GAPSS- lots of memories starting at 8:00am in the losers bracket and winning 7 straight without a break to reach the championship before falling short to an excellent MVExpress team
2010 Ohio Lasers 94 16U
Champions at ASA states and Stingrays
2011 Lasers Scarlet 16U
Champions at Dayton Metro, Stingrays, Loudonville 18U
2nd place in the 18U colorado sparkler
tied 5th ASA/USA Nationals
2012 Lasers Scarlet 18U
Champions at Stingrays and Loudonville 18U (what a great way to finish)

Over the years new players have come but the friendships have mostly remained. From the players who spent at least a year with the team here is the colleges I know will have players we had the pleasure of meeting and watching on this team. Ohio State, Michigan State, Northwestern, Akron, Kent State, Toledo, Wright State, Ashland, Tiffin, Malone, Lamar University (texas), Hampton(VA), Radford (VA), South Dakota State. There are probably others I may not be recalling at this moment.

In conclusion I offer my heartfelt thanks for 4 wonderful years to
Coach JP- I didn't always agree with you, but what do you expect from a pitcher's parent we are buttheads. You taught these girls that high expectations and goals can be reached. You asked them to do things that maybe they did not believe they could, but your belief in them allowed that to reach those expectations.
The parents- You have raised an amazing group of girls, any of which I am proud to say I know. I believe every parent we met in 4 years had the best interests of all of the girls at heart and would take care of them like they were their own.
Mostly to the girls- Watching you play and hang out together for the last 4 years probably made me feel every emotion imagineable at one time or another. But every weekend you allowed me to smile, laugh, and be proud. I believe that all of you will be successful in life and hope that someday down the road I get to hear about those successes.
Thanks
Mike Sutton

Post of the year. It was a pleasure watching this team at the Stingrays tournament. As an AU parent, we are looking forward to having Miss Flanigan in an AU uniform. Congrats to all on this team.